Composition for removing boiler scale and the like and method of preparing same



Patented Nov. 28, 1933 I v V COMPOSITION FOR REMOVING BOILER SCALE AND THE LIKE AND METHOD OF PREPARING SAME David William Haering, Qhlcago, Ill.

No Drawing. Application May 29, 1931 Serial No. 541,126

4 Claims. (CI. 87-27) The present invention relates to a composition are in solution and suspension in the natural for preventing scale in boilers and inhibiting pitjuices of the plant and due to their colloidal nating and embrittlement of the boiler plates; also ture are not wholly extractable from the dried to the method of preparing the composition. or cured plant.

5 Another object is the formation of a composi- The crushed cactus is placed in a container 60 tion also useful for water treatment in washing and exposed to the air for a varying period of and rinsing. time, preferably from 24 to 48 hours. This per- More specifically a purpose of the invention is mits fermentation to set in with decomposition the preparation of a composition of matter by the of the saccharides into weak organic acids, thus fermentation of the juice of plants of the order increasing the acidity of the juice. Further, the 65 of Opuntiales, family Cactaceaa or Opuntiaeca:- acids act upon the glucosides, hydrolyzing a porwhich in turn are divided into approximately 20 tion of these with the consequent formation of genera the more important of which are Cereus, the reducing sugars. The action is similar to the Cactus, and Opuntia. hydrolysis of the well-known glucoside amyg- The above and other objects will be readily dalin which is represented by the following 70 apparent from the detailed description hereinequation: after appearing.

The best known member of the order Opun- CZXEMNQH+2HZO=97HGO+HCN+ZCBHHOG ygdahn Benz aldehyde Glucose tiales IS the species cactus, there being about 300 species in all. Although these present strik- One gallon of water is added to the fermented 75 ing differences in physical and structural charplant which is then placed in a covered vessel acteristics, nevertheless in their component into which steam is introduced, the contents chemical constituents they are strikingly similar. being continuously agitated. This treatment is The variations in the quantity of moisture and maintained for about 15 minutes after which the 5 in the temperature of the numerous localities liquor is allowed to cool and strained to remove where different species of cactus grow account for insoluble matter. After the straining operation, what dissimilarity exists in chemical composione half of one per cent of formaldehyde or tion between species. However, this dissimilarity some other preservative is added to check feris primarily in the character of the carbohydrates, mentation and the quantity made up to exactly 30 which they all contain in very large quantities. one gallon by the addition of water in which Cactus plants usually contain carbohydrates as form it is ready for the market. The compomono-, diand polysaccharides. Often also there sition is used in the ratio of one pint of the exare present pentose polysaccharides, pentosans tract to 1000 gallons of boiler or make up" and colloidal carbohydrates, also glucosides, gluwater.

sid s as s p nins, as w as organic acids. When formed as indicated above the prepara- Glucose, fructose, g'alactose, and arabinose are tion will remove scale and rust from boiler walls, f und inva y s proportions and among t a ids and will inhibit caustic embrittlement of the may be numerated formic, acetic, butyric and boiler plate as well as keep a clean boiler free malic acids. from scale. It will be appreciated that my com 40 Thes co p u are usua y not all present in position acts as a weak acid, as a reducing agent 95 any one species, but all of them are to be-found and as a colloidal dispersing agent. The last 81110118 e different Species n addition to a large result is particularly noticeable when the prepnumber of other organic substances which may atio i d i rinsing as t aids in t be the result of decomposition, polymerization or moval of the last vestages of soap through its yd ysis. or p y as mal nstituents of ability to increase the colloidal dispersion of 100 t Plant. L soap particles. In washing the cleansing prop- A h u h 88 indicated y Specie f h rd r erties are accentuated and the necessity for an may be used as a starting point in the preparation alkaline softener is eliminated. of my novel composition, I prefer to use Opuntia From the above it will be seen that I have lindheimerLCMtaceze, commonly knownasnopal formed a novel composition well adapted for or nopal cactus. One pound of the fresh nopal the purposes specified, and it is my intentionto is finely ground, making possible the extraction cover any variations in the specific details above of reducing glucosides. Emphasis is desired to set out and to be limited inthis respect only as be placed on the use of the plant in freshly cut may be necessary by the scope of the claims condition as a portion of the active constituents hereto appended.

crushing fresh cactus, fermenting the juice for a predetermined period of time, adding water thereto, treating the watered juice with steam, cooling the juice, then removing insoluble matter and subsequently arresting fermentation.

4. A composition for removing boiler scale and the like comprising the fermented juice of the specie cactus including a solution of weak organic acids and carbohydrates, the latter including reducing sugars.

' DAVID WILLIAM HAERING. 

